Clarkia Sewage Treatment System - Secondary Wastewater Plant in Clarkia, Idaho

The Clarkia Sewage Treatment System is a municipal wastewater facility located in Clarkia, Idaho, within the Shoshone County area. Serving a small population of 104 residents, this plant provides secondary treatment to manage local wastewater from the community. The plant's location along National Forest Development Road 321 places it in a rural, forested setting. As a secondary treatment facility, the Clarkia plant meets the standard level of treatment required under the U.S. Clean Water Act for municipal wastewater. The plant operates with a designed capacity of 68.14 units and currently processes 53.00 units, indicating it is operating below its full capacity. This scale of plant is typical for small rural communities in Idaho, where decentralized treatment systems are common. The treated effluent from the Clarkia Sewage Treatment System is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the St. Joe River watershed, part of the larger Columbia River Basin. The receiving waters support aquatic life and are important for regional biodiversity. The plant's operation helps protect downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive forested region.

The Clarkia Sewage Treatment System discharges into local streams that flow into the St. Joe River, a tributary of the Coeur d'Alene River, which eventually reaches the Spokane River and the Columbia River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic habitats, including salmonid spawning grounds, and is part of a larger ecosystem that includes national forests and protected areas. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pathogen loads, safeguarding water quality for downstream communities and wildlife.